Welcome to Tonbridge blog.... Reflecting the events, views and opinions of people in your town... get something off your chest....stimulate a debate....have your say

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Stirring up a stink....

Apparently there's one 'ell of a pong across Tonbridge at the moment. It's not the stink of corruption, of match fixing or anything of that nature but a real live, get up yer nose stink. Many have complained about this pen and ink before with the odd passing comments on Tonbridge Blog but I've never been bothered enough to put pen (and ink) to paper about it. Why? Well, to tell the truth, I've never actually caught the smell of it before. (maybe I have a perculiar sense of smell or something!) Apparently it's a sweet perfumy type smell which can be rather annoying and persistent once you get a whiff of it. The source of the odorous problem seems to be from Drytec, a contract drying company which produces chemical fragrances, based in Morley Road which, admittedly, is on the edge of the town but really is pretty much in the Town Centre or it may as well be as the nature of pongs is that they do tend to drift in a windward direction. The residents of the Lions Crescent and East Street area do seem to be at the wrong end of it more often than not but it has been smelt as far as Quarry Hill and beyond. Environment Health are aware of the problem so, it seems fairly safe to assume that there isn't a significant health risk but it still doesn't get round the problem of the terrible whiff in the air. If you, unlike me, have a problem with these smells drifting over your home or workplace then let's hear your thoughts and views below. If you feel strong enough about it there is a number at Environmental Health you can ring which is 01732 844522 or contact them by email jacqui.rands@tmbc.gov.uk or alternatively crispin.kennard@tmbc.gov.uk go on have your say....

26 comments:

@ copy7t You don't know what you are breathing in and if you don't like that idea, or the smell of candyfloss in the air, it's important that you contact Environmental Health and they will log the incident.

The smell from the sewage works is also unpleasant and there have been many complaints over the years about this too. If you are concerned and bothered by the smell you should contact Environmental Health to report this.

However, it is well known that the smell from the sewage water works on Tonbridge Industrial Esate is not harmful. We know that it is mainly human waste and although unpleasant the smell is very localised and not creating the nuisance factor that the sickly sweet smell does.

With concern to this sweet, pungent and overpowering odour, we are unsure of the health implication. It often engulfs the whole of the centre of Tonbridge, Sainsbury and Waitrose carparks, and The High Street. It is known that the smell is caused by chemicals. It is also not localised, it is wind borne, it is causing nuisance, and has been detected as far reaching as tow paths leading out of the town, The Ridgeway, Quarry Hill, around the station area and the perimeter of the Sportsground.

The impact of car pollution on health is not favourable - permitted emissions are gradually being tightened up. government bodies worldwide are constantly monitoring the levels.

To overload the atmosphere with more chemicals is not an ideal situation. This creates a cocktail with unknown impact on health. the air we breathe in Tonbridge is already overloaded with vehicle emissions with the over congested High Street and close proximity to the M25. To add to this problem with even more chemical emissions can not be favourable to health. The nuisance factor of the odour must also be addressed as this in itself has an impact of residents daily lives.

It is not an either or situation here. It is not a choice between the sweet smelling chemical and vehicle emission. There is at present no choice but a chemical cocktail.

Dear Tonbridge Blog, Yesterday I discovered to my surprise that there's an oil pipeline running through Tonbridge that (apparently) dates back to the war. I've been given to understand that it runs from Manston to Gatwick. It's currently being renewed but runs along the course of Horns Lodge Lane, just on the northern edge of Tonbridge on the Shipbourne road.

The chap I was talking to about it claims that it was laid during the war to allow oil to be moved easily around the country. It's about 8" thick and bound by huge steel cables. It was supposed to be buried 4 feet down but is in some places no more than a foot below the surface.

You can see the contract for the renewal of the Tonbridge section of the pipeline here:http://www.publictenders.net/tender/67936

You can see that the tender is coming from the MOD, which tends to tie the pipeline in with the WW2 story I heard.

The pipeline is being moved from its current route to ensure that it doesn't run under residential areas.

I've noticed the smell to, but it just smells a bit like washing powder to me, not popcorn or candyfloss.Perhaps it's designed to have the same effect as beauty in the eye of the beholder, except in this case it's in the nose of the sniffer. Could it not be refiltered and made to smell like bacon sandwiches or curry and chips? Then, all the porky people who seem to make up around 70% of the town's population would be in heaven.

Your information is incorrect Sebfox. The smell is not manufactured by the sewage plant on the industrial estate. It is caused by the chemical company Drytec. It is causing nuisance to many residents in Tonbridge as would any intrusive smell that continually pervades homes and gardens.

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely

Wether you are for or against or don't care,the fact is that the stink is a cocktail of industrial waste. If you like the idea of breathing it, you can buy a nice new flat almost next door. MMMM Lovely